Two people lost their lives in Plainfield, New Jersey, after their vehicle was carried away by floodwaters during a powerful storm that swept through the U.S. Northeast overnight, officials confirmed on Tuesday. Governor Phil Murphy, speaking in Berkeley Heights after assessing damage in the region, noted that these latest fatalities bring additional tragedy to a community that had already seen two storm-related deaths on July 3, including a third victim in neighboring North Plainfield.
“We’re not unique, but we’re in one of these sort of high humidity, high temperature, high storm intensity patterns right now,” Murphy said, urging residents to stay alert as the region endures wave after wave of extreme weather.
Authorities did not immediately release the identities of the two victims. Local officials reported that the car they were traveling in was swept into a brook during the peak of the storm. “Emergency personnel responded quickly, but tragically, both individuals were pronounced dead at the scene,” read a statement released by the city.
Contents
Chaos in Subways and Streets as Rain Overwhelms Infrastructure
The storm also caused significant disruption in New York and south-central Pennsylvania. Torrential downpours led to flash flooding that shut down roads and paralyzed parts of the New York City subway system. Viral videos circulating online showed dramatic scenes inside Manhattan stations where floodwaters gushed onto platforms. In one clip, passengers could be seen standing on train seats to escape rising water.
Janno Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), explained the root of the flooding: the city’s sewer system became overwhelmed by rainfall, which backed up into subway tunnels and stations. In some areas, the pressure from the water even blew open manholes, producing powerful geysers.
“What happened last night is something that is, you know, a reality in our system,” Lieber told ABC 7. He noted the problem occurs when rainfall exceeds 1.75 inches in an hour — a threshold that was surpassed during the storm. Although transit service has since resumed, including the Long Island Railroad and Metro-North commuter lines, the incident underscored vulnerabilities that have persisted for decades.
Despite billions of dollars spent to waterproof the subway system following Superstorm Sandy in 2012, flooding remains a chronic threat. Some improvements — such as storm barriers, sealed vents, and raised curbs — have been implemented, but intense storms, including the 2021 remnants of Hurricane Ida, continue to test the system. That event alone killed more than a dozen New Yorkers, many in basement apartments, and once again filled the subways with water.
Pennsylvania Hit Hard as Water Rescues and Road Closures Mount
The storm dumped nearly 7 inches of rain across parts of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, prompting numerous water rescues and causing widespread street and basement flooding. Even into Tuesday, some roads remained impassable in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Governor Murphy said buckled pavement and other storm-related damage were being evaluated across multiple counties. He added that the White House had contacted his office in response to the devastation.
A key highway in New Jersey had to be closed for emergency repairs, while flight disruptions rippled across major airports in the area. Newark Liberty Airport saw at least 173 flight cancellations by Tuesday, according to data from FlightAware.
In a North Plainfield neighborhood, the flooding had even more dangerous consequences. A home caught fire and collapsed following what Murphy described as an explosion. Thankfully, the family was not home at the time, and no injuries were reported. The incident is under investigation.
City Officials Acknowledge Aging Systems Can’t Keep Up
New York City officials defended the performance of their aging sewer system, claiming it did all it could under extreme conditions. Rainfall in Central Park reached the second-highest rate ever recorded, just shy of levels seen during Hurricane Ida.
“Imagine putting a two-liter bottle of water into a one-liter bottle. Some of it’s going to spill,” said Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala during a virtual briefing. While the MTA operates the subway system, Aggarwala noted that city officials have worked closely with the agency to clean sewers near 45 flood-prone subway stations. However, he warned that addressing the broader issue would require an estimated $30 billion in sewer upgrades across approximately 80 of the city’s most vulnerable areas. Currently, New York invests about $1 billion per year in stormwater management.
Another Wake-Up Call from Nature
As New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania reel from yet another deadly storm, the limitations of current infrastructure have once again been laid bare. Despite years of investments and flood-proofing efforts, the increasingly intense and unpredictable weather patterns continue to overwhelm city systems and claim lives. Officials from state and city levels stress the importance of remaining alert as extreme weather becomes the new normal — a reality that requires both immediate preparedness and long-term investment.
